Five charged in meth bust

DOBSON — An investigation into the sale of methamphetamine from a Dobson home has resulted in the arrests of five area residents.

Sheriff Graham Atkinson said officers with his department served a search warrant Friday evening at 114 Fred Atkinson Lane, the residence of 61-year-old Aaron Keith Smith.

“We were able to obtain the search warrant as a result of our investigation which had been ongoing for several months,” Atkinson said. “During the search, officers located about one ounce of methamphetamine packaged for individual sale, a handgun and drug paraphernalia including scales, smoking pipes and needles.”

Smith was arrested on charges of possession with the intent to sell and deliver methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, maintaining a drug dwelling and the possession of paraphernalia. His bond was set at $75,000.

Also arrested at the home were Joseph Lee Tate, 35, of 2717 Lambsburg Road in Lambsburg, Va.; Shannon Dawn Dollyhite, 33, of 371 Hodges Road in Lowgap; Travis Andrew Fletcher, 27, of 234 Fleeman Trail in Dobson; and William Travis Vernon, 34, of 668 Haystack Road in Mount Airy. All four were charged with the possession of methamphetamine and the possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tate was also charged with carrying a concealed weapon.

Dollyhite and Vernon were also charged with maintaining a drug vehicle.

Vernon’s bond was set at $50,000 and the other three had bond set at $40,000.